Holding the Chinese Calligraphy Brush 毛笔执笔法

To practice Chinese calligraphy, you must learn the proper way to hold the brush as this will produce the desired effects in calligraphy. As a beginner, always try to hold the brush firmly and keep it straight and vertical to the desk. Unlike Western calligraphy or pen writing, do not hold the brush in a slanted angle.
The brush needs to be held with all five fingers because each finger plays a different vital role in writing each character's strokes. If a certain finger is not used, the effect in each stroke will look different. Remember to keep the wrist and palm in a smooth angle to avoid muscle strain.
The functions of the five fingers are called ye, ya, gou, ge and di.

Ye (to press down the thumb): The thumb should press the brush on a slant from left to right.
Ya (to use the index finger hold the brush handle): Press the finger slantwise and bend it slightly from right to left. The index finger and the thumb cooperate so that while one presses the other holds the brush handle. Gou (to use the middle finger hook the brush): Move this finger forcefully from left to right to hook the brush. The middle finger must cooperate with the third finger to write the characters.

Ge (to use the third finger press the brush): The third finger is placed on the left side of the brush handle pressing the handle outwards. It cooperates with the middle finger so the two fingers exert an even and balanced force. Di (to use the little finger to support the third finger): It is placed under the third finger to support it to push the brush outwards.
The palm must be hollow such that one should be able to hold an egg within that space.
This method of holding brush allows greater freedom of movement, control and execution of strokes.

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学习书法，一定要学正确的执笔方法，这样才能产生预期的书法效果。作为初学者，应尽量握紧毛笔，使它正直，与书桌垂直。不像书学西方书法或钢笔字，毛笔不应倾斜。
所有的五根手指都应用来执笔，因为在书写每一笔划时，每一根手指的功用是不同的。如果一根手指没用到，每一笔划的效果看起来就会不同。记住，手腕与手掌的角度要顺势，这样才会避免肌肉僵硬。
五根手指的功能是：擫、押、钩、格、抵。
擫（用拇指按）：拇指应倾斜由笔管左侧向右侧按住笔管。
押（用食指压笔管）：食指倾斜，稍微弯曲，由笔管右侧向左侧压下。食指与拇指合作，一按一压夹住笔管。钩（用中指钩笔管）：以中指有力地由右侧向左侧钩住笔管。中指要与无名指合作书写。
格（用无名指抵压）：无名指放在笔管左边向前推挡笔管。无名指要与中指配合，两根手指使出的力要均匀平衡。抵（用小指来支撑无名指）：小指紧靠无名指辅助它向前推挡笔管。
掌要虚，空虚之处应可放一粒鸡蛋。
这种执笔法可达至更大的运笔、控制与书写的伸缩性。